Buzz keeps building on these talents

Young up-and-comers form rising A-list

Certain names attached to projects make financiers, sales agents and producers feel more at ease than others. In what has become an annual feature in our Global Independents issue, Variety checks in with a dozen leading indies to download the bankable names du jour along with their descriptive (and anonymous) feedback. Many mentioned previous entries such as Emily Blunt and Channing Tatum or — on the helming side — Fatih Akin. Here’s this year’s crop:

THESPS

Malin Akerman

“She’s someone that everyone is talking about as the next Cameron Diaz.”

Upcoming: “The Brothers Solomon,” “The Heartbreak Kid”

Hayley Atwell

“Fast-rising English rose.”

credit: “Cassandra’s Dream”

Upcoming: “Brideshead Revisited,” “How About You”

Miley Cyrus

“The rising teen queen. She’s only 14, but a huge TV/music star with her teen show ‘Hannah Montana.’ ”

credit: “Hannah Montana” (TV)

Megan Fox

“After ‘Transformers,’ she’s marketed as the new Angelina Jolie.”

credit: “Transformers”

Upcoming: “How to Lose Friends and Alienate People”

Nina Hoss

“A young, German Meryl Streep. Very sexy. Now that she’s won the Silver Bear for ‘Yella,’ she’s starting to build an international profile.”

credit: “Yella”

Upcoming: “Anonyma”

Rinko Kikuchi

“After her Oscar nomination for ‘Babel,’ there’s no stopping her. Just think about the Asian market.”